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Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
‘First Licensing System' at PMDC regional office in Lahore launched
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), to facilitate medical/dental graduates and practitioners, has launched for the first time, the Licensing System at the PMDC regional office in Lahore, Punjab. According to an official communiqué, the digital initiative targets to simplify and expedite the registration process for graduates and medical and dental professionals and specialists, enabling them to complete their registrations quickly and securely. The system promotes greater transparency, efficiency, and accessibility by eliminating traditional hurdles and significantly reducing processing times. One of the most notable benefits is that it saves medical and dental practitioners' valuable time and effort by eliminating the need to travel from Lahore to the Islamabad head office to resolve their queries. Furthermore, doctors facing difficulties in filling out the online portal application will be assisted by the staff available at the regional centre who is equipped to help with the submission process. All registration services will now be available at the PMDC Lahore Regional Office. These services include full registration, license renewal, issuance of Good Standing Certificates, provision of duplicates, and updates or changes to practitioner records, shall be facilitated except for matters related to teaching and practical experience. The Lahore office will also assist with the submission and processing of online applications, as well as resolving related queries for the above categories. Original certificates will be dispatched to practitioners via TCS courier service, while a copy of the certificate may also be provided to medical and dental professionals for their convenience. Prof Dr Rizwan Taj, President of PMDC, emphasised the significance of this development by stating: 'This is a step towards accelerating the licensing process through PM&DC's regional offices. By launching this initiative, we are empowering our doctors to begin their professional journeys without unnecessary delays.' He added that Phase-I has been launched in Lahore to serve practitioners in Punjab. The system will be expanded nationwide in the coming months. Phase-II will be launched in Peshawar and Karachi, followed by Phase-III in Jamshoro and Balochistan, and finally Phase-IV in Multan. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
25-05-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
MBBS fee spike irks families
In Pakistan, nearly all parents hope that at least one of their children gets to flaunt the highly revered, 'Dr.' title of a doctor. However, as the medical education sector becomes increasingly reliant on costly private institutions, it appears that the white coat will now be reserved for those born with a golden spoon in their mouth. In 2019, the total tuition fees for the five-year Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree was fixed at Rs5 million. Although private medical colleges implemented this policy for two years, now they are charging Rs10 million to Rs15 million as fees for the same degree. As a result of the increase in fees, students and their parents are facing severe financial difficulties since they also have to bear the additional cost of Rs2 million on books, clothing, transportation and daily expenses during the five-year academic period. Beenish, a pre-medical student, shared her experience of taking admission at a private medical school after she could not qualify for a government college. 'In addition to the first-year fee of Rs2.2 million, I was asked to deposit additional money in the name of donation, for which no receipt was given. If we use the college's transportation, then Rs100,000 is collected annually as travel charges. Similarly, a monthly fee of Rs50,000 is sought for living in the girls' hostel. Our parents are suffering from severe mental stress because of the huge sum of money required for our education,' said Beenish. Ali Murtaza, a second-year medical student at a private medical college confirmed that exorbitant fees were being collected from students at private institutions even though their faculty was incomplete. 'Private medical colleges have a monopoly in the city and are charging arbitrary fees. As a result, medical education has become so expensive that the children of low to middle-income parents cannot afford to become doctors,' exclaimed Murtaza. Muhammad Zia Iqbal, former Dean of Basic Sciences at Dow University and former Professor at the Sindh Medical College, confirmed that private medical education had become a commercial industry in the country since the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) had failed to formulate any uniform policy regarding their fees. "Hence, the annual fee of private colleges has increased by 200 per cent," claimed Iqbal. On the other hand, the PMDC has maintained complete silence on the extraordinary, unannounced and arbitrary increase in tuition fees by private medical and dental colleges. From 2019 to 2021, the annual tuition fee for MBBS was fixed at Rs1 million. However, after the dissolution of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), the Pakistan Medical Council (PMC) divided medical colleges across the country into A, B and C categories, after which these colleges started deciding their own fee. Some medical colleges are charging an additional fee of 10 to 20 per cent every year. An international medical college in Karachi is charging a five-year fee of 90,000 US dollars, hence proving that the PMDC has become practically inactive. This is aggravated by the fact that limited seats are allocated for medical education in government medical and dental colleges. A total of 2,450 seats are allocated for MBBS in government medical colleges in Sindh. The number of government medical colleges across Sindh including Karachi is 12 while the number of government dental colleges is seven and the number of government medical universities is six. The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has issued a public notice on January 8, 2025, directing private medical and dental colleges to not collect fees for the academic session of 2024-25 until the Medical Education Committee established by the Prime Minister under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister takes a decision regarding the review of tuition fees.
Business Recorder
22-04-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
Absence of PNMC president, secretary: NA body directs ministry to initiate disciplinary action
ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel on Monday expressing serious displeasure over the absence of the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PNMC) president and secretary from the meeting, despite the issuance of formal notices has directed the Ministry of National Health Services and Regulations to initiate appropriate disciplinary action against the officials. The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services and Regulations meeting which held under the chairmanship of Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, discussed the longstanding matters of the PNMC and directed the Health Ministry to take serious notice of the officials over non-attendance and initiate appropriate disciplinary action against them in accordance with the relevant rules and procedures. The committee resolved to issue a show-cause notice through the National Assembly speaker. The members raised serious concerns about the legitimacy of the PNMC president's appointment and her academic qualifications. The chair directed the ministry to finalise its response and ensure that a comprehensive decision on the matter, including the president's qualifications and appointment process, be presented before the next meeting. Responding to the questions of the committee members regarding the Sehat Sahulat Programme, the officials of the Health Ministry apprised that a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) was expected within the next 15 days, and that a high-level committee under the prime minister has recommended shifting the programme's coverage to those living below the poverty line, with government subsidies. The committee stressed the need for transparency in determining hospital eligibility and recommended that details of the development or current mode under which the programme would continue be shared with the committee. It also stressed that the programme should be expanded to areas such as AJK and Tharparkar and that manpower issues and malpractices be addressed at the earliest. The committee, while discussing matters related to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and its regulatory framework, especially regarding the longstanding issue of rising fees in private medical colleges, appreciated the uniformity introduced through the PMDC proposal to cap the fee at Rs1.8 million to Rs2.5 million annually, with a maximum five percent yearly increment. However, the chair strongly emphasised that this cap must be strictly enforced and no institution should be permitted to exceed the limit. Regarding the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT), the committee was informed that a uniform national curriculum had been developed through consensus and was available online. The revised curriculum would be finalised soon, but the committee stressed that it must be shared with members prior to formal approval. The committee expressed serious concern about the delays and reported corrupt practices in issuing experience certificates to medical professionals. It was categorically directed that such certificates be issued without delay and in a transparent manner. The committee reviewed the proposal to increase the excise duty on sugary and ultra-processed foods. It was informed that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had agreed to the Ministry of Health's recommendation to raise the duty from the existing 20 percent to 30 percent. The chair directed that the proposal be included in the upcoming Finance Bill and reiterated to the FBR that this must be ensured. The Committee requested that the final response from the FBR be submitted before May 2, 2025. Regarding 'The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (Amendment) Bill, 2024' and 'The Islamabad Healthcare Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2024' (moved by ShaistaPervaiz, MNA), the chairman of the committee instructed the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) to hold a separate meeting with the mover without delay, address all outstanding concerns, and ensure her satisfaction prior to April 24, committee deferred 'The Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill, 2024' (moved by Abdul Qadir Patel, MNA) due to absence of the mover. The committee, unanimously, approved 'The Islamabad Capital Territory Compulsory Thalassemia Screening Bill, 2025' (moved by Sharmila Sahiba Faruqui Hashaam, MNA) with amendment to clause 4 of the bill that was unanimously agreed to be removed. The Ministry of Law and Justice as well as the Ministry of NHSR&C were on the same page and did not give a nod of approval. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
30-03-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
PMDC solicits MDCAT curriculum draft observations
Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has prepared the draft of the MDCAT 2025 curriculum for medical and dental college and invited stakeholders to share their feedback. Committed to implementing a uniform curriculum and standardized documents nationwide, the PMDC has uploaded the draft on its website. All stakeholders, including students, teachers and educational institutions, have been urged to review the draft and submit their observations by April 10. The consultation process will help finalise national education standards and enhance the transparency of the MDCAT examination process.
Express Tribune
27-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
PMDC sets tuition fee cap for private medical colleges
Listen to article The federal government has capped annual tuition fees at Rs1.8 million for MBBS and BDS programmes in private medical and dental colleges, Express News reported. The decision was made by the Committee on Medical Education Reforms, formed on the prime minister's directive and chaired by the deputy prime minister. The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). 'The rising cost of tuition in private institutions has long been a burden for students and their families,' the statement read. 'This decision marks a significant step towards accessible and equitable medical education in Pakistan.' The PMDC noted that the issue had previously been discussed in council meetings held on June 4 2022, December 10 2023, and February 23 2024. In its most recent development, a sub-committee chaired by Prof Dr Masood Gondal was formed on February 27 2025. The committee engaged stakeholders including private colleges and the Pakistan Association of Medical Institutions (PAMI) before presenting its final recommendations. Following a detailed financial analysis and stakeholder consultation, the reforms committee determined that Rs1.8 million would be the standard annual tuition fee for MBBS and BDS programmes. The fee may be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). PMDC clarified that institutions seeking to charge more — up to a maximum of Rs2.5 million per year — would be required to submit detailed financial justifications, including comparisons with similar institutions, services offered, and academic enhancements. 'Unreasonable or unjustified fee hikes will not be entertained,' the council stated, adding that all tuition increases must be transparent and aligned with actual educational costs. 'It is essential to maintain the financial viability of private institutions, but fees must remain reasonable and reflect real costs,' the statement concluded. The reform is being viewed as a breakthrough in the government's broader effort to make quality healthcare education affordable for students from low- and middle-income backgrounds.
